Every division series could be over by the end of Wednesday. This includes the potential for sweeps in both National League series. At least the Cubs get to try to stave off elimination at home. The Phillies are stuck trying to get a couple wins on the road against the defending champions. First pitch is at 3:08 p.m. ET. Here are my lineup recommendations, possibly for the last time with some, if not all, of these series.
Pitching
Cam Schlittler, NYY vs. TOR ($9,800): The Yankees survived, and now Schlittler has a chance for an encore. He was the story of the first round, pitching eight shutout innings and striking out 12 against the Red Sox. Schlittler also allowed one earned run or fewer in seven of his last nine regular-season starts. The Blue Jays' offense has yet to be kept in check in this series, even in thier Game 3 loss. Schlittler's form, though, could make that happen.
Jameson Taillon, CHC vs. MIL ($8,300): This is betting, to a degree, on the Cubs playing for their playoff lives and grabbing a win to avoid a sweep. Beyond that, Taillon has pitched well as of late. He had an 1.57 ERA in six starts after returning to the rotation, and then in the first round he pitched four scoreless innings against the Padres. Plus, while he finished the season with a 3.68 ERA, he had a 3.05 ERA at home.
Top Target
This season, Michael Busch ($3,400) slugged .523 and hit 34 homers. In the playoffs, he's slugged .688 and hit two home runs. That's all owing to the fact he's a lefty slugger who can blast the ball around the park — and out of the park — against righties. Busch had an .910 OPS versus right-handed pitchers on the campaign. After a bullpen game, this time around it does seem the Brewers will have to see if Quinn Priester can give them a few innings. Priester had a 4.01 FIP this season, and in his career lefties have hit .283 against him.
Bargain Bat
For Dominic Canzone ($2,700), his continuing existence as an MLB player is built upon his ability to hit righties away from Seattle's home ballpark. In his MLB career (which includes a smattering of games as a Diamondback) he has an .807 OPS on the road, and this year he had an .875 OPS versus righties. Wednesday's Game 4 is in Detroit, and Casey Mize is a righty. He's a righty that had an unimposing 3.87 ERA this season at that.
Stack to Consider
Dodgers vs. Phillies (Aaron Nola): Teoscar Hernandez ($3,600), Freddie Freeman ($3,500), Max Muncy ($3,200)
The Phillies are in a must-win situation, and they're stuck starting Nola. That Zack Wheeler injury always looked precarious, but now things are bleak. Nola had a rough year, posting a 6.01 ERA. Now, you might argue he was hurt and then he missed a lot of time. Sure, but even if we only look at his outings after returning from a lengthy IL stint, and even if we don't include his first start back, he had a 4.89 ERA in seven starts. That's still not good! Lefties haven't always hit Nola better than righties, but they hit .273 this year, so I have two lefties in this stack.
Hernandez is an all-or-nothing hitter, but his "all" yielded 55 extra-base hits this year, including 16 home runs at home. Freeman had over 80 runs scored and 90 RBI this year, and he also hit 39 doubles in 147 games. The lefty has hit two more doubles in the playoffs, and he's walked three times. Also, in terms of neutralizing Freeman with a southpaw out of the bullpen, he had an .855 OPS versus lefties this year, so good luck with that. Hernandez has been locked in to start the playoffs. Sure, it's been four games, but he has an 1.444 OPS with three homers. Injuries limited Muncy to 100 games this season, but he had a .923 OPS against righties and a .968 OPS at Dodger Stadium.
